New photos of the unusual, yet still rather unknown aircraft first sighted at the Victorville Southern California Logistics Airport has emerged. As to what this design and what purpose this aircraft serves is still unclear, it is believed that the Celera 500L, built by Otto Aviation may make its maiden flight soon. Not much is known about the aircraft for the manufacturer, but they have been operating in secret for at least a decade. (www.thedrive.com) المزيد...

Whenever I see a "new aerodynamics aircraft" I take it with a pound of salt. Of the numerous Rutan contraptions what is left after some 100-200? were built. The road to the boneyard is paved with several car-airplane and other strange looking things that made their creators several millions of dollars poorer. Too bad.

Not exactly a lot of room in the wings for fuel tanks so in the fuselage then plus cabin space for pilot and passengers plus luggage, severely doubt it's twin engine. Going by the RED website it seems to have 3 turbos, one either side and one in front relevant to engine bay. With those engine covers off I can't see any evidence of the heat exchanger mentioned, or how one would work with the turbo layout. Looks like the offspring of the Spruce Goose and an A300-600 Beluga.

Oh yeah. Sorta sad under-engineering. One sees it in so many airplane designs. Some stuff looks like you just have to work it out after your best shot on paper. - And I'm not an engineer, nor do I play one. - Side note is that when the fuselage mock-up came through Denver, I went and had a look. Pretty airplane, what portion was there. Had a chance to talk shop with "Torch" Lewis of BCA.

Revolutionary? Likely not. Advanced somewhat over cerebral civilian technology? Perhaps. All I see from my perspective is a high aspect ratio wing, composite construction and a decades old idea of somehow making a recip V8 into a unicorn of high altitude efficiency. How do they think a propeller will function at 65,000 feet?

No real visibility. Nose doesn't have much if any room for radar. I'd guess seeing the tail arrangement with skid bar hanging down that if anything it's an attempt to sell it as an engine test bed or surveillance or tax write off with items going into personal possession.